Wiardgroup

>If the 
> buying public was willing to accept faceplates made from fiberglass instead of metal, it 
> would open the floodgates to new module designs.
> 
> You can hardly see the difference either, the fiberglass is painted and silkscreened just 
like 
> the metal. Plus fiberglass is lighter and stiffer.
> 
> I have heard this idea repeatedly from many people, but no one believes people will buy 
> modules with fiberglass faceplates. It is not historical.

> It is a practical idea, but the world is not yet ready for it.

Well if one stuck to "historical" then we'd just have Moog copies... ahemm... ;-)

It's a surprising justification though if the reaction came from your actual customers or 
dealers rather than self styled pundits. If someone actually buying said no then I would 
believe it would hold water. I mean there is no historical proof that people *won't* buy the 
modules based on someone actually offering them. 

From one standpoint you are already offering a choice of 2 metal faceplates on the 1200 
modules so while I'm sure there would be a cost involved in the prep setup for the new 
material, it's not like you don't have the inferstructure in place already to offer alternative 
priced faceplates. 

Now the idea of offering a new feature set to go with the new material does admittedly 
offer what could be a substantial "sugar coating" which does open up a more complex 
comparison. It might also bring up a long term durability situation if components are 
integrated in a way beyond just replacing the faceplate material. In other words simply a 
different material I don't think myself would be a no-sale. But some kind of mounted 
interface makes me at least worry if it will remain working years later

Here are a few of my thoughts. 

The comparison of price versus delivery time (i.e. shipping from stock vs. backordering vs. 
pre-ordering) might be worth considering. I'm always debating ordering in advance and 
then half the time cursing doing so for one reason or another at some point, though I've 
never been burnt. It's not really possible to have a choice but I think it does weigh in a lot 
on weither to get a module you have to wait for or something else or postpone the 
decision. I mean people desire modular gear a lot more than they really "need" them. So to 
me it might not be a cut and dry decision of what you get for how much money but a 
factor of will I get it in a day or two or sometime a few weeks, a season or two or 4 in the 
future.

I can see why Frac as a form factor is probably limiting in certain departments, but don't 
all form factors have pluses and minuses? Then again I bought 2 racks because there were 
a fair amount of choices out there. One thing going for it is the getting started price for 
the rack and PSU is low.

My hesitation on the original series had a bit of connection to the form factor. I was 
thinking that if I was going to get one I'd likely want to get a rack worth. I do get annoyed 
by empty rack spaces looking at me even though part of me thinks that's silly. Then they 
got more or less discontinued. I have to say it's much easier to get the motivation to get a 
module when one does have some empty spaces then when one has to work out the power 
supply and mounting. And it's also easier to talk oneself out of not getting some modules 
you want if they are a different format, require a wait, cost a good chunk of money, etc.

I've always fantasized that Grant could get something in the way of less costly fabrication 
going - I guess SMT for instance - because it's seemed like the his impass was getting the 
stuff built and then running what he has going in terms direct sales. I kept wishing he'd 
get more of his great designs out there rather than seeing the same old stuff over again so 
often from other companies (not to say that there aren't some basic modules that you 
need for a good system)